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Collection Description
Collection name
Henry Macleod Havergal programmes, 1920-1924 (bound volume)
Unique identifier
Mus. 311 c.19
Description
A bound volume of concert programmes largely from various venues across Oxford, collected by Henry Macleod Havergal during his time as an undergraduate at St. John’s College, University of Oxford, ranging largely from June 1921 to August 1924, with two programmes from June 1920.. Havergal went on to become the principal of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (Now known as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) from 1953 - 1969, before his death in 1989.
The bound volume is ordered chronologically and mostly consists of programme covers pasted onto blank pages. The programmes are often accompanied by Havergal’s writing where he filled in contextual details which were either absent from the programmes, or not included with the covers that are pasted in. On some occasions, performances were handwritten in. Included near the back of the volume is a handwritten letter addressed to “H.H” dated August 29th 2024. Havergal often makes notes about H.H. next to certain performances throughout the volume, including multiple programmes where he comments on H.H.’s lateness to particular events.
Also Included with the bound volume, is an extract from Havergal's unpublished memoirs, which offer context to his life during his time at Oxford, including insights into the musical life of early 1920’s Oxford.
The subheadings (and the detailed description following that) below, organise the events included in the volume by year and then location/venue/society:
1920 - 2 Venues
1921 - 1. Oxford Town Hall
2. Oxford Musical Club and Union (Holywell music room?)
3. Various Oxford Venues
4. Other Locations (and unspecified)
1922 - 1. Oxford Town Hall
2. Oxford Musical Club and Union (Holywell music room?)
3. Various Oxford Venues
4. Other Locations (and unspecified)
1923 - 1. Oxford Town Hall
2. Oxford Musical Club and Union (Holywell music room?)
3. Various Oxford Venues
4. Other Locations (and unspecified)
1924 - 1. Oxford Town Hall
2. Oxford Musical Club and Union (Holywell music room?)
3. Various Oxford Venues
4. Other Locations (and unspecified)
1920:
Christ Church Cathedral
June 5, 12 and 26 & July 3, 10, 17 and 24, Organ Recitals. On the June 19 and July 31, the Cathedral choir will sing unaccompanied music form the staircase. On June 24 the combined chorus of Magdalen, New College and Christ church will sing in the cathedral.
Salisbury Cathedral
June 24th 700th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stones of Salisbury Cathedral.
1921:
1. Oxford Town Hall
June 2. Pianoforte Recital. Moiseiwitsch.
October 27. First Concert [Oxford Subscription Concerts]. The London Symphony Orchestra. Conducted by Mr. Albert Coates.
October 17. Special engagement of the Lowell Thomas Travelogue, with Allenby in Palestine and Lawrence in Arabia. Travel talk by C. Cowland Cooper.
Uncertain, November, 4? Cortot recital.
November 24. Second Concert. Mrs. Gordon Woodhouse (Harpsichord), Miss Dorothy Silk (Singer) and The Birmingham String Quartet. Oxford Subscription Concerts.
Assembly Room, Town Hall
November 2. Pianoforte Recital. A Chopin group and the children’s corner. Harold Samuel.
2. Location unspecified [Holywell Music Room?] - [Oxford University Musical Club and Union]
June 7. The Pennington [String] Quartet. 1112th Meeting.
June 14. 3 Violin and piano Sonata’s and a Violin concerto acc. Double string quartet and piano. Miss Marjorie Haywood (Violin), Dr. R. Walker (Continuo). Conducted by Mr. H. C. Ross. 1113th Meeting
October 25. 3 Violin Sonatas. Mr. Stanley Blagrove (Violin) and Dr. H. G. Ley (Piano).
November 1. Variety performance including the Philharmonic quartet and soloists. 1116th Meeting.
November 8. Mr. Leff Poushinoff (Pianoforte). 1117th Meeting.
3. Various Oxford University & College Venues
Christ Church Cathedral
August 14, 21 and 28. Organ Recital
Location Unspecified - [Christ church?]
November 6, 13, 20, 27. Organ Recitals.
Christ Church Hall
November 19. Recital by Claude Biggs (Pianoforte). Christ Church Musical Society.
Merton College
December 6. Carol Service. Conducted by S.E. Dyhls Brown.
New College Chapel
December 18. Carol Service.
Sheldonian Theatre
June 12. Oxford Bach choir and choral society and the Oxford orchestral society. Conducted by Sir Hugh Allen and Mr. Maurice Besly.
St. John’s College - St. John’s College Musical Society
November 9. Recital, Mr. S. J. Ching (Piano) and Mr. D. Ffrench-Blake (Voice).
November 23. Recital. St John’s College Musical Society. Including a performance of one of Grieg’s Sonata’s for violin and piano by R.C. Hart and H.M. Havergal. [Handwritten]
St Michaels & All Angels - Summertown
October 5. Dedication Festival. Organ Recital by Mr Frederick J. Massey.
November 9. Organ Recital by Mr. S. E. Dykes-Bower.
4. Other Locations (and unspecified)
Hereford Cathedral
September 8. Hereford Musical Festival. The W. H. Reed and The London Symphony Orchestra. Miss Beatrice Harrison (Violoncello) and Dr. H. G. Ley (Pianoforte). Conducted by Mr. Percy C. Hill.
Queen’s Hall, London
August 30. A Promenade Concert. Conducted by H. Wood
1922:
1. Oxford Town Hall
February 16. Programme of the fifth concert. The English String Quartet. Oxford Subscription Concerts.
March 2. Programme of the sixth concert. The Oxford Orchestral Society. Conducted by Maurice Besly. Oxford Subscription Concerts.
May 4. Programme of the seventh concert. Bach Recital. Harold Samuel. Oxford Subscription Concerts.
May 11. The London Chamber Music Players. Oxford university musical club and union. 1131st meeting.
May 7-13. Festival of Music 1922. Complete festival programme. Includes 2 separate photos of Sir Hubert Parry and Sir Hugh Allen.
May 26. Pouishnoff. Piano recital.
June 8. Programme of the Eighth concert. Violoncello recital by Mme. Guilhermina Suggia. Oxford Subscription Concerts
October 1. Concert by “The Elizabethan Singers.” English Madrigals, part songs and Vocal solos.
October 19. Programme of first concert, 3rd season. The Goossens Orchestra, Conducted by Eugene Goossens. Oxford Subscription concerts.
October 29. Concert by “The Elizabethan Singers.” English Madrigals, Part-songs and vocal solos.
November 13. Kreisler Recital + attached photo.
November 16. The English Singers. Oxford Subscription concerts.
November 30. The Oxford Orchestral society. Programme of third concert, 3rd season. Oxford subscription concerts. Conducted by Maurice Besly.
December 24. Christmas carols. Conducted by Sir Hugh Allen.
Unspecified Location [Town Hall?]
February 23. Moiseiwitsch recital.
October 18. Backhaus recital.
2. Location unspecified [Holywell Music Room?] - [Oxford University Musical club and Union]
January 24. The Pennington Quartet. 1122nd Meeting.
January 31. The English Singers. 1123rd Meeting.
February 7. The Modern Trio. 1124th Meeting.
February 14. Strings of the London Chamber Orchestra and Dorothy Moulton (Singer). Conducted by Anthony Bernard. 1125th Meeting.
May 2. The Pennington Quartet. 1130th meeting.
May 16. The English String Quartet, 1132nd meeting.
May 23. 1133rd meeting.
June 6. Mr. Plunket Greene, accompanied by Mr. S. Liddle. Oxford University Musical Club and Union. 1134th Meeting.
June 13. Pianoforte recital by Mr. Herbert Fryer. 1135th Meeting.
June 16. Additional concert by members.
June 19. Concert of Member’s Composition. 807th Concert.
June 20. The Philharmonic Quartet. 1136th meeting.
October 24. The Russian Trio. 1138th meeting.
October 31. The Philharmonic String Quartet. 1139th Meeting.
3. Various Oxford University & College Venues
Balliol College - Balliol College Musical society
June 11. Miss Margaret Fairless (Violin) and Dr. Ernest Walker (Piano).
November 26. 805th concert. Miss Denne Parker (Singer), Mr. S.M. Allen (Organ) and Dr. Ernest walker (Pianoforte).
Christ Church
February 5, 12, 19, 26. March 5. Organ Recitals. March 19th, the choir will sing selections from Bach’s Passion Music.
May 29. Eights-week Concert. The Cathedral choir and the London Chamber Orchestral. Conducted by Anthony Bernard. Christ Church Musical club.
Dragon School, Oxford
November 4. The Gondoliers.
Keble College - Keble College Musical Society
May 31. Eights’ Week Concert. Conducted by T. H. W. Armstrong.
Masonic Hall, Oxford.
November 3. Harold Bauer, Pianoforte recital.
Merton College
December 7. Carols. [Traditional and New carols]
New College Chapel
November 5. Recital.
December 17. Carol Service.
New College, In “the Slype”
N.d. given [Likely August - early October 1922] Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme by Lully. The Oxford University Dramatic Society.
Queen’s College, Oxford.
February, 26. Handel’s Dettingen Te Deum + other works. The Eglesfield Musical Society.
Sheldonian Theatre
March 12. Hymn singing for Choir and Audience. Conducted by Sir Hugh P. Allen.
November 12. Performance of Verdi’s “ Requiem.” Oxford Bach choir and Oxford Orchestral Society. Conducted by Sir Hugh Allen and Mr. Maurice Besly.
December 3. Programme of Christmas Music. By the Oxford Bach choir and the Oxford Orchestral Society.
St. Edward’s School, Oxford.
June 22. Summer Concert.
Location Unspecified [St. John’s College Hall?] - St. John’s College Musical Society
March 14. Recital.
May 30. Eights’ week concert. The English singers. + 2 loose advertisements for the English Singers.
November 8. Songs and Piano. St. John’s College Musical Society
December 6. Vernon walker (Piano) and Christopher Lodge (songs).
St. Michael’s and All Angels, Summertown.
May 14. Dedication of the memorial of the east window.
October 3. Organ recital by Dr. W. H. Harris. + Leaflet about the reconstruction and enlargement of the Oxford Cathedral organ.
Location unspecified - The Eglesfield Musical Society
December 5. Vocal recital.
Unspecified Location - Oxford Ladies’ Musical Society
December 8. Two Hundred and Ninety-Seventh concert.
Location Unspecified - Women’s Institute of Wootton.
March 16. Concert in aid of Women’s Institute of Wootton.
4. Other Locations (and unspecified)
The Old Prebendal House, Shipton-under-Wychwood
October 5. Wedding souvenir programme.
Queen’s Hall, Langham Place, London
November 6. The London Symphony Orchestra. Harold Bauer (solo pianoforte) Conducted by Albert Coates (+ signed photo attached.)
November 7. Royal Albert Hall Orchestra.
St. Mary’s Church, Shipton-under-Wychwood
October 5. Special Music.
Winter Gardens - [Bournemouth?]
September 6. Summer Symphony Concert. Conducted by Sir Dan Godfrey.
1923:
1. Oxford Town Hall
January 28. Concert by “The Elizabethan singers.”
January 31. Programme of the fourth concert, fourth season. The Dutch String Quartet. Oxford Subscription concerts.
March 4. Concert by “The Elizabethan singers.”
March 8. Sixth Concert, fourth season. The Oxford Orchestral Society. Conducted by Maurice Besly.
April 1. Orchestral concert by “New Oxford Orchestra.” Conducted by Maurice Besly.
June 22. Invitation Concert. Pianoforte Recital by Miss Mura Hess. Oxford Ladies Musical Society. 305th concert.
October 21. Concert by “The Elizabethan Singers.”
November 1. Programme of the first concert. The London Chamber Orchestra. Conducted by Anthony Bernard.
November 2. Kreisler recital.
November 16. The Léner Quartet. International celebrity subscription concerts.
November 27. Programme of second concert. Violoncello and Vocal Recital.
December 7. Programme of the third concert. The Oxford Orchestral Society. Conducted by Maurice Besly.
Location unspecified [Town Hall?]
December 1. Cortot.
2. Holywell Music Room - [Oxford University Musical club and Union]
January 26. 828th Concert.
Location unspecified [Holywell Music Room?] - [Oxford University Musical club and Union]
February 6. The English String Quartet. 1147th meeting.
February 9. 816th Concert. Includes Havergal on the programme playing the Piano in 2 piano duets and a piano trio.
February 12. Violincello and piano recital. 1148th meeting.
May 1. The Catterall Quartet. 1153rd meeting.
May 8. The Spencer Dyke Quartet. 1154th meeting.
June 12. Song Recital by Mr. John Coates. 1158th meeting.
October 16. The Music Society Quartet. 1160th Meeting.
October 23. Mr Herbert Withers and Mr. Leslie Heward. 1161st Meeting.
October 30. The Chamber Music players: Messrs. Albert Sammons, Cedric Sharpe and William Murdoch. 1162nd Meeting.
November 20. Mr. Sumner Austin (Singer), Accompanied by Dr. E. Walker.
November 27. Pianoforte recital by Mr. William Murdoch. 1166th Meeting.
3. Various Oxford Venues
Christ Church
January 21, 28. February 4, 11. Organ recitals.
Exeter College
March 1. Smoking Concert.
May 29. Exeter College Musical Society. Conducted by P.G. Temple.
Keble College
March 4. Keble College Musical Society. Conducted by S. Watson.
May 30. Eights Week Concert. Keble College Musical Society. Conducted by Sydney Watson.
Keble College Chapel
November 24. The Choir of St. Edward’s School.
Merton College
December 6. Carols. Conducted by S. E. Dyke Bowal.
New College Chapel
March 4. Programme.
The New Theatre, Oxford
February 13-17. King Henry IV. Part I. by W. Shakespeare. Conducted by Guy Hancock. The Oxford University Dramatic Society.
W/C February 28. Personal Visit of Henry Ainley Supported by Full London Company in Oliver Cromwell.
May 31. Ruddigore. D’oyly Carte.
Queen’s College Chapel
February 25. The Eglesfield Musical Society. Conducted by Maurice Besly.
Unspecified [Queen’s?]
December 4. Herbert Heyner. The Eglesfield Musical Society Chamber Orchestra. The Eglesfield Musical Society. Conducted by Maurice Besly.
Regent theatre, London
n.d. listed [likely Late March/ April]. The Immortal Hour.
Sheldonian Theatre
March 11. Beethoven’s Mass in D. Oxford Bach Choir and the Oxford Orchestral Society. Conducted by Sir Hugh Allen.
June 17. Programme of Concert. The Oxford Bach choir and the strings of The Oxford Orchestral Society. Conducted by Sir Hugh Allen.
June 27. Encaenia. Includes Organ recital by H. G. Ley.
St. Edward’s School
June 21. Summer Concert. Conducted by The Warden.
St. John’s College
February 21. Concert.
June 20. Concert. St John’s College Musical Society, Includes H.M. Havergal on the Piano.
St Michael’s & All Angels, Summertown.
January 1. Carols.
Partial Programme - Missing first 2 pages.
Part of a programme which likely took place late May to early June 1923. The Musicians included singers and string players from New College choir and wider college, supported by a small amount of singers from Magdalen and Christ Church.
4. Other Venues
Location unspecified - Kingham Choral Society
January 18. Brahms Requiem. Conducted by Mr. Basil de Selincourt.
Lyric Theatre - London
“Lilac tme” from the melodies of Franz Schubert.
Muntham, Sussex
October 2. The “Snow” String Quartet.
Queen’s Hall - London
March 14. The Philharmonic Choir, Conducted by C. Kennedy Scott.
The Royal College of Music
March 26. Private dress rehearsal of Orpheus by Gluck.
Royal Albert Hall, London
March 14. The Oxford Bach choir and the Cambridge University musical society. Conducted by Sir Hugh Allen, Dr. Cyril Rootham and Mr. Maurice Besly.
Unspecified location [Royal albert hall?] - London.
February 16. Orchestral Concert by the Royal Albert Hall Orchestra. Conducted by Sir Landon Ronald. Soloists: Marguerite Namara and Adela Hamaton. Photos of the named individuals are attached. International Celebrity Subscription concerts.
Shewsbury School
December 19. Concert, conducted by W.H. Moore.
St. Mary’s School, Wantage.
November 20. Programme. Conducted by H.M. Havergal.
Wigmore Hall, London
February 12. The Spencer Dyke String Quartet.
Unspecified location
n.d. Words of Songs. [A programme of vocal music and violin solos].
2024:
1. Oxford Town Hall
January 27. Concert by “The Elizabethan Singers.”
January 31. Fourth Concert, Fourth Season. Dutch String Quartet. Oxford Subscription Concerts.
February 24. Concert by the Elizabethan singers & Chamber Orchestra. Conducted by Keith Douglas.
February 28. Roland Hayes - The African Tenor. Oxford Subscription Concerts.
March 13. Programme of Sixth Concert. The Oxford Orchestral Society. Conducted by Maurice Besly.
April 6. Vocal and Orchestral Concert. The iffley Choral Society. Conducted by Reginald Jacques.
June 25. Oxford Harmonic Society. Conducted by Reginald Jacques.
June 25. Commemoration Concert. Oxford Harmonic Society. Conducted by Reginald Jacques.
2. Oxford Musical Club and Union (Holywell music room?)
January 22. The English Trio. 1168th Meeting.
January 29. The Music Society Quartet. 1169th Meeting.
February 12. M. Louis Fleury (Flute), Dr. Ernest Walker (Piano) and Dr. H. G. Ley. (Piano). 1171st meeting.
February 19. The English Quartet. 1172nd Meeting.
April 29. The Philharmonic String Quartet. 1176th Meeting.
May 6. Programme by Members of the Cambridge University Musical Club. 1177th Meeting.
May 13. The English String Quartet. 1178th Meeting.
June 10. Mme. Guilhermina Suggia (Violoncello) accompanied by Mr. George Reeves (Piano). 1181st Meeting.
June 17th. 1182nd meeting.
3. Various Oxford Venues
Christ Church College
May 18. Organ Recital by H.G. Ley.
June 1. Christ Church Cathedral. Organ recital by Lynnwood Farnam.
August and September. Christ Church Cathedral. Services, Evensong and Recitals throughout August and September 1924
Exeter College
February 21. Exeter college Musical Society conducted by K.Douglas.
Keble College
May 28. Eights’ Week Concert. Keble College Musical Society. Conducted by Sydney Watson
Playhouse, Oxford
June 22. Concert by “The Elizabethan Singers”
Queen’s College Chapel
March 2. The Messiah & Ode to Music. The Eglesfield Musical Society.
Sheldonian Theatre
March 9. The Oxford Bach Choir and The Oxford Orchestral Society. Conducted by Mr. W. K. Stanton (accompanied by picture) [Sir Hugh Allen was Absent].
June 12th. Seventh Concert. The Oxford Bach Choir and the Oxford Orchestral Society. Conducted by Sir Hugh Allen.
June 25. Encaenia. Including organ recital by H.G. Ley.
St. Edmund Hall
May 24. Eights’ week concert.
St. Edward’s school.
June 19. Summer Concert. Conducted by The Warden.
St. John’s College
February 22. St. John’s College Musical Society. Conducted by H.M. Havergal.
St. John’s College Chapel
February 18. Organ Recital by Dr. Ley.
Unspecified Location - City of Oxford Amateur Dramatic Club
n.d. Twelfth Annual Production “If I Were King” Musical director: Charles E. Harris.
4. Other Locations (and unspecified)
Kingham, Village Hall
February 2. Programme of the fourth annual orchestral concert. Kingham Choral Society.
Savoy theatre, London.
n.d. “In the Snare” An adventure of 1810 by Rafael Sabatini and Leon M Lion
Worcester Public Hall
April 5. 19th Orchestral Concert. Worcestershire orchestral and Ladies’ choral Society. Conducted by Sir Ivor Atkins.
Unspecified Location
n.d. - [a programme consisting of 2 soloists. Dorothy Robson (Voice) and Margaret Fairless (violin).
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Bodleian Library, Music Library
Broad Street,Music Library Oxford OX1 3BG Open Map
DOMUS
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Collections Overview
The collection has very strong holdings of British music and related material acquired in part by legal deposit. Many collected editions and scholarly series. Very strong periodical coverage, including major 19thC European journals. Largest collection of American song material in UK.
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